International friendly preview: Italy v Uruguay

In-form outfits Italy and Uruguay will do battle in a friendly in Rome with both putting unbeaten streaks on the line.

Cesare Prandelli’s team have done little wrong this year, losing just once and now on a six-match unbeaten run after a 2-0 win over Poland on Friday.

They comfortably qualified for Euro 2012, and now welcome a Uruguayan team that have not lost in their last 12 outings.

Liverpool forward Luis Suarez starred in their World Cup qualifier against Chile last week, netting four times in the 4-0 win.

Mario Balotelli was the architect of Italy’s victory over Poland, hitting his first international goal.

The Manchester City forward will pose a threat if Prandelli gives him another start after the 21-year-old played 90 minutes on Friday.

Italy have several avenues to goal, and they have proven extremely difficult to break down.

Led by goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and defender Giorgio Chiellini, the Azzurri have conceded just once in their last five outings.

Italy’s last win over Uruguay was at the 1990 World Cup, when they were 2-0 victors in Rome in the round of 16.

While they created several opportunities against a weakened Chile side, Uruguay will struggle to create as much space against the Italian midfield.

But with Suarez and Edison Cavani up front, hitting Italy on the counter-attack could be their best approach at Stadio Olimpico.

Keeping a clean sheet has also proven to be difficult for Oscar Tabarez’s men, having conceded in three-straight matches in the lead up to the Chile clash.

Even in their comfortable win in Montevideo, Chile still created opportunities and a more clinical side would have punished the Uruguayan defence.

With a well-organised defence and Balotelli in form, the hosts should have enough quality to edge their South American opponents.